Exarch of Phanar: Ukraine's denominations drifted further apart after Tomos
The exarch of the Phanar, Bishop Michael (Anishchenko) of Comana. Photo: a screenshot of the YouTube channel "Spiritual Front"
The exarch of the Phanar, Bishop Michael (Anishchenko) of Comana in an interview with the resource "Spiritual Front" said that Orthodox denominations of Ukraine only distanced from one another after the Tomos was granted.
"Unfortunately, it seems to me that the Orthodox jurisdictions have become further apart, especially at this time during the war," the exarch said and added that "one can only guess" why this is happening.
At the same time, the exarch assured that the Phanar gave the Tomos to "absolutely all the Orthodox of Ukraine to unite all in one local Church", and it is not his fault that the UOC did not "recognise" this.
According to the bishop, after the granting of the Tomos, now "the questions are already to the local figures, how open and ready for mutual understanding they are."
The exarch refused to comment on the actions of the authorities concerning the UOC, "because the state as a monopolist in this matter surely has more detailed information".
As earlier reported, a Phanar priest appealed to the exarch in Kyiv to respond to the persecution against the UOC. The latter remained silent.
Read also
Ostapenko: Everyone in UCCRO feels fine except the “FSB UOC”
The director of the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra National Reserve called the All-Ukrainian Council of Churches “a wonderful organization.”
Khmelnytskyi Eparchy donates funds for treatment of 12-year-old girl
UOC believers raised UAH 20,000 for Anastasiia Mamchur as part of an eparchial charity campaign.
Shevchuk: We had to convince world UOC ban does not violate religious freedom
The UGCC head claims that by banning the UOC, the state is not violating religious freedom but merely protecting the Church’s faithful from Moscow propaganda.
Lavra reserve head estimates damage to Dormition Cathedral at €15 million
Maksym Ostapenko said restoring the Dormition Cathedral would take at least a couple of years and require major funding.
DESS official says state should not govern the Church
A DESS official called for cooperation between the state and the Church for the benefit of citizens.
Poltava court upholds mobilization of Protestant pastor
A court in the Poltava region ruled that a prior criminal conviction and religious beliefs do not exempt a person from military service.